Local debt service says people already struggling to get by as council tax set to rise
All this week we're looking at the different ways you'll be affected by the budget proposals put forward by West Yorkshire's councils
A West Yorkshire debt service says it's bracing itself for even more people needing help when local councils raise tax and rent.
All this week we're looking at what the budget cuts planned for our county mean for YOU - starting with plans to hike our monthly bills.
Leeds, Bradford, Calderdale, Wakefield and Kirklees councils have all announced plans to raise council tax by just under 5 per cent including 1.99 per cent for adult social care.
In Leeds, this represents an increase of £81.91 per year for a Band D property, £1.58 per week.
We spoke to people in Armley who told us they’re already struggling to make ends meet:
“We can’t continue living in this way, where everything is rising and the salaries keep the same,” said Lilliana.
“The other day I was meant to buy my little one something in the shop because she’s been good at school, and she said ‘mummy please don’t because you can’t afford it’. And that breaks my heart!”
“Literally I’m struggling for food,” said Daniel.
“I’ve cut back on my gas and electric just to avoid food. It’s my son’s birthday this month and I can’t take him out because I can’t afford it. So it is hard for us all.”
Leeds debt service Money Buddies says the number of people they helped in 2023 was up more than 340 per cent compared to 2019.
Director of Operations Louis Zarins-Brown says they are unable to help everybody who needs it:
“The majority of people we speak to have more money out than they have coming in,” he says.
“Bills just keep going up and up and up, but wages aren’t meeting that and benefits that people receive aren’t being increased within that line.
“About 70 per cent of the clients we see will suffer with depression and anxiety and that is brought on by financial pressure and worries. Life for them is very bleak and depressing.
“We just do not have the amount of staff we need to deal with the problem. Some of our staff will work late into the evening, but there are not enough hours in the day.”
He says debt services nationally need much more support and funding to be able to help everybody struggling with their finances.
The leader of Leeds City Council Councillor James Lewis has said councils across the country are in a ‘perilous position’, with spiralling costs and a ‘continuous challenge to make ends meet which has become almost impossible’.
He adds that the result is a budget which includes decisions they did not want to make.